what is considered "the city" in la, for example, in nyc, "the city" is Manhattan, in the san francisco bay area, "the city" is san francisco

In the Los Angeles area, "the city" can refer to different places depending on the context, but it commonly refers to the city of Los Angeles itself. However, unlike New York City or San Francisco, where "the city" has a clear designation, Los Angeles is a sprawling metropolis with many neighborhoods and surrounding cities. Some people might informally refer to downtown Los Angeles or specific neighborhoods like Hollywood or West Hollywood when they say "the city." In more casual conversations, if someone from LA refers to "the city," they are usually talking about Los Angeles, although the broader region includes many other cities and communities.